Thread: Otago/Southland long range shoot/meet-up?

Hi all, in the past myself and a few shooting buddies have enjoyed attending field-style shooting events, e.g. the Gunslinger long range shoots, and I know there are others like the one run by Harry Hoover up north. Now I realise these are not everyone's cup of tea, and I see a lot of people on here are against paying an entry fee for such a shoot. I completely understand that. But in one of the recent magazines (it may have been the latest NZ Guns and Hunting) Harry Hoover had a message basically explaining that these official organised shoots were subject to new health and safety nonsense which has made them almost impossible to run now. I see the Gunslinger PLRS website has been down for a while and I'm assuming these types of shoots just won't happen anymore, regardless of how much entrants pay. I read the thread about the memorial shoot for Toby and it looks like it's set to be awesome, I don't know if I can make it up there but if I can make it work I would love to. That is the kind of event I'm thinking of; informal shooting out to 2k with some like-minded bastards, and anything goes in terms of what rifles can be used. It would be great to see something like this in the south island held 2-3 times a year, but I wouldn't know where to start in terms of organising things, obviously it cannot be a formal 'competition' and would have to be relatively small in scale. I've been keeping an ear to the ground for private land where an obliging farmer/owner would have room to shoot long range but haven't got anything concrete yet.
I suppose what I'm asking to start with is; if there are any forum members in the south (between Invercargill Christchurch) who are into long range stuff and would be keen on pooling resources like targets to have a meet-up. I'm all ears if anyone has anything to add, I've only been able to shoot out to 800m at the local range for the last year or so and I've been itching to get out further again.
Cheers, Tom

Tom,
You are wrong with regards to these style shoots unable to happen under the new H&S "nonsense". They are not impossible to run. GPR Events has 4 or 5 events coming up before Christmas and we take H&S very seriously.
Harry closing down his shoot had very little / nothing to do with H&S.

I am Taranaki based so not much help to you - but if you can get some like minded people together and a property to host it then go for it!

Originally Posted by Gillie

Tom,
You are wrong with regards to these style shoots unable to happen under the new H&S "nonsense". They are not impossible to run. GPR Events has 4 or 5 events coming up before Christmas and we take H&S very seriously.
Harry closing down his shoot had very little / nothing to do with H&S.

I am Taranaki based so not much help to you - but if you can get some like minded people together and a property to host it then go for it!

That's a relief, I must have misunderstood the article. Nonetheless I'll be keen to see something like that down here, I had a look at the GPR facebook page and it looks great.

Would be keen for something like this. Not on the long range scene but would be keen to catch up with other forum members and possibly give the shooting a crack for a laugh. Sorry cant help with a venue but if you need a hand with organizing it give us a yell.

sounds good but i'll be working on the island all summer, if its over winter i'm very keen. may be able to find a farm in north canterbury but its only a maybe

I'd be keen for a hunting rifle section, but there are no areas that I know down my way which is a bummer!

I believe there is a range out manapouri way(down the road for me) that can go to 1k as a potential venue which I'll have to pull some strings if that's of interest?

Originally Posted by Rock river arms hunter

I believe there is a range out manapouri way(down the road for me) that can go to 1k as a potential venue which I'll have to pull some strings if that's of interest?

Keen but the timing would be tricky for me, guess I could jump the ditch during summer!

I am keen AS! Have a look in the Vortex Mountain Challenge, it is only once a year as now but quiet few people like minded are working to improve it, make it twice a year and develop a hunting division with silhouette targets out to maybe 500meters and of course, the long range thing (up to 1500 meters or yards) too.
Keep the eyes open, I will update from my side about any news regarded. On the main track, I can't help with a venue but I am VERY VERY MUCH interested in this kind of shot.
I am Lately shooting my 6.5Creedmoor but I have my 7mm RM hunting rifle for a further go if possible.

Cheers Tom

Mac

Would love to meet a few forum members for a weekend, only really good enough to shoot out to 400-500m but put a bit of steel in front of me and I'll have a crack at it

Someone have had a thought and have a place we can meet?

Come over to the island, next week I should have sorted a few decent possies out for longish range shooting yet to take range finder but should be almost 400m